Al represents life sciences, IT, cleantech and other businesses and investors in venture capital and private equity, corporate work, mergers/acquisitions, collaborations, spin-offs, strategic alliances, licenses, and management compensation issues. Most of his work involves cross-border situations. Al works hard to understand his clients' markets and business objectives.
Al has been recognized for several years by the Practical Law Company as "Recommended" in M&A and Corporate Transactions. He has also been listed as a "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics and Boston Magazine in the areas of Securities & Venture Finance. This designation is based upon the results of a survey of 37,000 Massachusetts attorneys, reportedly to select the top five percent of lawyers in the state.
Notable Experience
· Multiple reorganizations and spinoffs of two venture-funded companies, transitioning from a single C corporation structure to one involving a limited liability company (LLC) and several C corporation subsidiaries.
· Equity investment in U.S. biotechnology company by a Swiss venture capital fund, coupled with a reverse merger with a public company.
· For publicly traded cleantech company (composites, hardware, software), corporate counselling of company and its board of directors for thirteen years.
· For a Japanese life sciences client's transaction with a U.S. company, strategic alliance covering loan, equity conversion, licensing, production and supply arrangements.
· For a venture-funded, German-based telecommunications client, spin off, multiple financings with UK, Belgian, Swiss, German, U.S. and Japanese investors, M&A, licensing, HR, and other work, and then an M&A exit for its sale to U.S. telecommunications equipment company buyer.
· Sale of Swiss life sciences services company to U.S. buyer.
· Acquisition in the U.S. by a public biopharmaceutical company in Germany of an oncology diagnostics operating division of a medical devices company.
· Equity investment in U.S. biotechnology company, coupled with financing for a Singapore subsidiary.
· Acquisition by Danish engineering company of a U.S. engineering company.
· Life science portfolio and limited partner equity investments by venture capital unit of pharmaceutical company.
· Acquisition (and, then divestment, 10 years later) of global sera and cell culture reagents business in U.S. (four states), Europe (UK and Germany) and Australia, for Pacific Rim pharmaceutical company.
· Assisted many non-U.S. companies in setting up U.S. operations, in various industries, e.g., bone medical devices, pulmonary resuscitation devices, in vitro fertilization, enterprise software for financial management, asset management for financial services companies, complex resource optimization, water purity, certification of business processes, travel security, and other industries.
· For a European resource optimization software company, acquisition of an Australian company. Also, several major IT transactions,in the transportation industry.
· Licensing, stock incentives, and other corporate assistance for a robotics company spun off from a university.
· Assisted various foreign banks in U.S. aspects of credit arrangements with borrowers with U.S. operations.
· PIPE (private investment in public equity) and registered direct financings, as well as acquisition arrangements of a Canadian smart-grid company, for a Nasdaq-listed client.
· Acquisition of Swedish biotech, stock incentive arrangements in the U.S. for various U.S. employees, and also various licensing/IP transactions, for Pacific Rim pharmaceutical company.
· Financings, corporate governance, corporate and other work for the first commercial in vitro fertilization company in the U.S.
· Collaboration and licensing agreements for European, Australian and U.S. life sciences' clients with U.S. and European companies, relating to anti-infective, vaccine, drug delivery and other life science technologies.
· Investment due diligence on patents, contracts, executive compensation and deal structure for European venture capital and other investors in U.S. and European companies.
· Acquisition arrangements for a French biotech of a U.S. vaccine company.
· Eight acquisitions in four countries during a twelve-month period for a venture-funded software client with operations in the U.S., Europe and Australia.
· Acquisition of internet security company from French sellers and (separately) disposition of a different internet security company to a French public buyer, and various financings with investors from France, Australia, the U.S. and Scandinavia.
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
· "Optimizing VC/PE companies for Exit," panelist and chairman, Copenhagen, Denmark, September 29, 2011.
· "Cross Border M&A: Strategy, tips and country comparisons," panelist and chairman, Stockholm, Sweden, September 27, 2011.
· "Hot Topics in Cleantech Financing," twice hosted the conferences and four times chaired their panel discussions, at Boston Cleantech Venture Day during October/November of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and Strategic Partner Cleantech Day in 2011.
· "Cross Border M&A: Comparisons of US, UK and Denmark, and Top Ten Mistakes," Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2010, panelist and chairman of conference.
· "Hot Legal Issues in Biotech Investing/Partnering," North American Forums on Biotech Investing, 2008, 2007, 2006.
· "Cross Border Venture Capital Investing," French American Chamber of Commerce, January 2008.
· "Boards of Directors: Responsibilities, Process, Managing Risks", Venture Capital Funds Conference, Boston, September 2007.
· "Life cycle management of ageing pharmaceutical assets," co-author, Pharmaceutical Law Insight, July/August 2007.
· "Structuring Venture Capital Investments," in Pratt's Guide to Venture Capital Sources (1997-2007 editions).
· "Cross Border M&A Topics", BioEquity Europe, Glasgow, May 2007.
· "Venture Capital Deal Term Statistics with Cross Border Perspective", World Law Group, Oslo, Norway May 2007.
· "Let's Make a Deal: Hot Topics for International Deals", American Australian Association, May 2007.
· "Accessing Capital - New Zealand and Australian Co-Investment with U.S. Partners," at Bio-Relationships Conference of the Australian-American Association, April 2006.
· "Crossing The Pond - Using A Foreign Legal Structure For Financial And Strategic Benefit," co-author, The Directory of Venture Capital & Private Equity Service Providers, 2006 edition.
· "Doing the Flip - aka Financial Strategic Alliances," co-author, Venture Capital Journal, October 2004.
· Quoted in "The Absence of a Market Relapse Gives Dealmakers Hope," International M&A Review in 2004 (published by Financier's Worldwide).
· "Collaborations: A Partial Answer in Today's Parched Funding Environment," Mass High Tech, April 2003.
· "Welcome Relief for R&D-Focused Start Ups," Venture Capital Journal, April 2003.
· "Minefield for Valuations," The Deal, March 2003.
· "Collaboration Arrangements," delivered at BioScandinavia, Copenhagen, Denmark, November 2002.
· "Down Rounds - To Succeed You Must Survive," AltAssets (on line), 2002, BioLaw and Business (Special Supplement), 2002; Private Equity and Venture Capital, 2002 (Euromoney Institutional Investor).
· "Negotiating Key Life Science Agreements," delivered at Borsen BioBusiness 2002 Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 2002.
· "US/EU Life Sciences Patent and Financing Strategies," co-delivered at conferences in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Berlin, Germany, December 2001.
· "Going Public in Canada and the U.S., Demystifying U.S. Venture Capital, and Getting the Most Out of Your VC," delivered at the Third, Fifth and Sixth Annual Canada IT Financing Forums, respectively, in Toronto, Canada.
· "Establishing Subsidiaries in the U.S.," delivered at a venture management conference in Europe.
· "Bringing Technology Products to the U.S. -- Evolutionary Steps," delivered at the Fifth Annual French-American Technology Meetings, December 1995.
· "Penetrating the U.S. Through Financial Strategic Alliances," Asian Venture Capital Journal.
· "Avoiding Pitfalls in Business Negotiations Between Americans and Others."
News & Publications
April 2012, Client Advisory - JOBS Act Provides New Opportunities for Private Companies
March 2012, Client Advisory - The JOBS Act Makes Significant Changes in the Regulation of Capital Formation and the Compliance Landscape for Many Companies
January 29, 2010, Reducing CO2 Via Cap-and-Trade
September 8, 2008, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Hosts First US-Danish Biomedical Innovation and Health Meeting
July 7, 2008, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Recognized in the American Lawyer
April 10, 2008, EAPD Represents Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited in $8.8 Billion Acquisition of Millennium Pharmaceuticals
2008, Structuring Venture Capital Investments
Private Equity and Venture Capital: A Practical Guide for Investors and Practitioners
October 30, 2007, EAPD Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2007
July/August 2007, Life cycle management of ageing pharmaceutical assets
Phamaceutical Law Insight
January 1, 2006, Crossing The Pond - Using A Foreign Legal Structure for Financial And Strategic Benefit
The Directory of Venture Capital & Private Equity Service Providers
October 2004, Doing the Flip - aka Financial Strategic Alliances
Venture Capital Journal
May 24, 2004, Growing Drug Importation Threatens Biotech VC Funding
CBS MarketWatch.com
April 26, 2004, Edwards & Angell Recognized as a Top Law Firm By Global Counsel 3000
Edwards & Angell, LLP
2004, The Absence of a Market Relapse Gives Dealmakers Hope
International M&A Review in 2004
April 2003, Collaborations: A Partial Answer in Today's Parched Funding Environment
Mass High Tech
April 2003, Welcome Relief for R&D Focused Start-ups Venture Capital Journal
March 2003, Judgment Call: Minefield for Valuations The Deal
October 16, 2002, What's up with Down Rounds?
AltAssets (on line 2002)
Events
November 2-3, 2011, Boston, MA, 4th Annual Boston CleanTech Venture Day
September 29, 2011, Copenhagen, Denmark, Optimizing VC/PE companies for Exit
September 27, 2011, Stockholm, Sweden, Cross Border M&A: Strategy, tips and country comparisons
October 28, 2010, Copenhagen, Denmark, Cross Border M&A: Strategy, tips and country comparison
September 23, 2009, New York, NY, Financing Trends in Clean Tech Venture - Risks & Opportunities
February 25-26, 2008, Boston, MA, Sachs Associates 7th Annual North American Forum
Investing & Partnering in Biotech
January 24, 2008, Boston, MA, The French American Chamber of Commerce of New England Presents Cross Border Venture Capital Deals
April 5, 2006, Boston, MA, Boston Bio-Relationships 2006
March 13-14, 2006, Sachs Associates 5th Annual North American Forum - Investing in Biotech and Medtech
June 6, 2004 - June 9, 2004, BIO 2004
Edwards & Angell is a platinum sponsor of BIO 2004, International Biotechnology Convention and Exhibition held in San Francisco, CA on June 6-9, 2004.
Before Edwards Wildman
After attending Yale University, Al moved to Lusaka, Zambia, for three years of micro-credit activities, primarily as the number two executive of the National Credit Union Association of Zambia. He also has taken post-graduate courses at the University of Ghana, Africa, and the University of Poitiers, France.
Besides Edwards Wildman
Al led a group of corporate executives in a visit to 15-20 large factories in the former Soviet Union in late 1991, traveling down the Volga River via riverboat. Al is an enthusiastic sea kayaker (with four sea kayaks), hiker, and cross-country skier. He is married to a Dane and has two sons.
Industries
· Technology
· Life Sciences
· Energy, Infrastructure & Cleantech
· Food and Agriculture
Memberships
· Massachusetts Biotechnology Council
· Massachusetts Telecommunications Council
· Massachusetts Software Council
· European Venture Capital Association
· French Chamber of Commerce
· Australian Chamber of Commerce
· German Chamber of Commerce
· Swedish Chamber of Commerce
· United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce